Before Dana Perino was a White House press secretary or a Fox News anchor, she was a 25-year-old with a promising job on Capitol Hill, and no plans for romance.
But one unexpected flight in 1997 changed everything—an emotional shift that some might compare to the unpredictability of life insurance coverage or health-related turning points.
On August 17 of that year, Perino boarded a plane from Denver to Chicago and found herself seated next to Peter McMahon, a 43-year-old British businessman.
The seat assignment sparked not only a conversation, but a love story that has now lasted nearly three decades. Love at First Flight.
The future press secretary remembers the small but telling details. McMahon wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, and he had an irresistible British accent. “He was a handsome guy,” she recalls, while McMahon quickly adds that the spark was mutual.
What began as polite small talk soon evolved into a two-and-a-half-hour conversation that spanned world travels, Royal Air Force stories, and undeniable chemistry.
